Yard goods tensioning device



July 4, 1950 K. DODDS 2,513,851

YARD GOODS TENSIONING DEVICE Filed 001;. 29, 1946 Inventor Kay Dadds-Mia WW 3m Patented July 4, 1950 t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE YARD GOODSTEN SIONIN G DEVICE Kay Dodds, Middletown, Ohio Application October 29,1946, Serial No. 706,446

6 Claims. (01. 223-410) which will impose a predetermined tension oncloth or similar goods drawn therethrough a short length at a time as bya seamstress in the formation of a hem or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a device with meanswhereby a different tension can be applied to cloth drawn through oneside of the device from the tension when the cloth is drawn through theother side of the device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which willaccommodate two or more layers of cloth drawn through the device simulonthe finger of an operator, is to allow the goods operated on to bepulled through the 'tensioning device either toward or away from theoperator,.

and as described above, with a choice of the degree of tensioningapplied to the cloth.

And a last object to'be specifically mentioned is to provide such devicein a form which is practicable to manufacture, convenient and simple touse, and which will give efficient and durable service.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, thisinvention consists of certain novel features of construction,combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter described indetail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings which form a material part ofthis application and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention, the hand of an operatorand a piece of goods being operated on, illustrating a hem being made;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the novel structure shown inFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the same;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the tensioning blade with its serratededge;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modification of my invention; and,

Figure 6 is a View, in perspective, of a modification of the tensioningplate, designed to fulfill a function comparable to that of theapparatus shown in Figure i.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar or identicalpartsthroughout the several views of the drawing.

As shown in the drawings, this invention includes an annular attachmentmember is, the top portion ii; of Whicliis slightly flattened to fit thefinger of the operator, and one end thereof is extended in more or lesstangential relationship as at it, and is laterally recessed on bothsides as best shown in Figure 3. The end 16 of the projecting portioncarries the plate It attached thereto by 1e nut and bolt 28, and theinner edge of this plate or blade is is serrated and has a non-centralinner end recess 22 Which divides the serrated edge into the twoportions 24 and 26, both portions yieldably contacting the portion 12. g

In a modification ofmy invention, depicted in Figure 5, the supportingmember H0 is a flat plate securable to a flange, such as a table. top,

"by the attaching bracket H2 and the clamp H4.

Theblade H5 is serrated on one edge thereof, and this serrated edge isdivided into two portions H8 and I by the non-central recess I22.Resilient mountingof the blade H6 is, in this case, provided by a simpleattachment lug I24 which may be integral with the blade H6 and may besecured by spot Welding or other suitable means, to the hat plate i it.It will be noted that the blade H6 is mounted at an acute angle with theplate I H).

A second modification of my invention is illustrated in Figure 6 andcomprises a roller 210 mounted in friction bearings 2l2 on the edge of aplate 2 l4, corresponding to the blade I8 shown in Figure 1.

In using the device, the annular ring I0 is slipped upon the end of theindex finger and the material to be operated on, as in sewing, is drawnthrough, a portion at a time, between the plate l8 and the flattenedportion of the annular ring l2. It will be seen, as indicated in Figure1, that the forefinger and thumb are now free to hold a portion of thecloth under reasonable tension between the point of contact of the thumband finger and the device. In an operation such as the formation of ahem the material is drawn from the left to the right through the deviceand sewn, a portion at a time, while being held under tension. Inanother use of this invention, the material, together with anotherportion of mate- 3 rial which it is desired to attach as in theapplication of lace to a hem, the two layers of material are drawn fromthe right to the left through the device, and in this case the shorterlength of the serrated edge, that is, the portion shown at 26 in Figure4, will produce a slightly lessened tension on the material. In eithercase, the recess 22 is functional in allowing the edge of the mate rialto ride free through the device, that is, the very edge of the materialis not tensioned to the same degree as the rest of the material pulledthrough. The lateral recesses 14 greatly facilitate entrance of thecloth from either direction into the device.

In using the modification of my invention illustrated in Figure 5, theprocedure will be modified by reason of the attachment of this form ofthis device to a table, sewing machine or other 4 facilitate theentrance of said material from either side thereof, said surface being aserrated edge of said element and said serrated edge being divided intotwo parts of unequal length.

2. A yard goods tensioning device comprising a split band ring having anend portion overlapping an inner end, the overlapping end portioncarrying an element yieldably contacting the ring adjacent said innerend.

. jacent said inner end, said element being a plate fiat surface, butthe principle of operation will are many advantages of this device andmethod over devices and methods ordinarily used. One

of these advantages is the equallized tensioningof the material as it isbeing worked upon and another is the versatility of the device, the manyuses to which the device may be put being clear to anyone skilled in theart to which this invention appertains.

Though there has been shown a particular embodiment of this inventionand modifications thereof, this application is not limited to thisparticular embodiment and modifications but it is desired to include inthe scope of this invention the construction, combination andarrangement of parts substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a split ring member, anelement yieldably mounted on said member and having a surface adapted toyieldably contact and grip yard material drawn between said surface anda contiguous portion of said member, said member having a tangentiallydisposed portion, said element being secured to said last mentionedportion, which portion is recessed on the sides thereof adjacent saidedge to having a serrated inner edge.

4. A yard goods tensioning device comprising a split band ring having anend overlapping an inner end, the overlapping end carrying an elementyieldably contacting the ring adjacent said inner end, said elementbeing a plate having a serrated inner edge, said edge being recessed todivide the edge into portions of unequal length. 5. A yard goodstensioning device comprising a split band ring having an end portionoverlapping an inner end, the overlapping end portion carrying anelement yieldably contacting the ring adjacent said inner end, saidoverlapping end portion being disposed substantially tangentially of thering.

6. A yard goods tensioning device comprising a split band ring having anend portion overlapping an inner end, the overlapping end portioncarrying an element yieldably contacting the ring adjacent said innerend, said overlapping end portion being disposed substantiallytangentially of the ring, and said element being a plate secured to saidoverlappingend portion.

I KAY DODDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

